Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter

Overview

The Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter lets you connect Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 devices — such as external hard drives and Thunderbolt docks — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro.

As a bidirectional adapter, it can also connect new Thunderbolt 3 devices to a Mac with a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port and macOS Sierra.

In addition, it can be used to connect Thunderbolt-enabled displays — such as the Apple Thunderbolt Display and LG Thunderbolt 2 displays — to any of the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports on your MacBook Pro. However, using this adapter with an Apple Thunderbolt Display requires a power source, because the display does not provide power through the adapter.

Note: This adapter does not support DisplayPort displays like the Apple LED Cinema Display or third-party DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort displays. For more information, visit the Apple Support page for the Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter.

Problems with chained displays, waking up from sleep / restarts

This adapter does NOT duplicate the functionality of the Thunderbolt ports on MacBook Airs and legacy MacBook Pros when daisy-chaining accessories together. For
This adapter does NOT duplicate the functionality of the Thunderbolt ports on MacBook Airs and legacy MacBook Pros when daisy-chaining accessories together. For example, I have a external hard drive chained to a DisplayPort monitor. On my old MacBook Air, the two would be recognized right away. I could wake up my computer from sleep (clamshell shut, hooked to external monitor and keyboard / mouse) and the hard drive would spin up and the monitor would turn on. With my new MacBook Pro and this adapter, however, waking up the computer from sleep, with the exact same connections, and the hard drive turns on but the monitor doesn't. If I open the lid of the laptop, then magically both displays will start working. Similarly, if I try to restart the computer in clamshell mode when the monitor is recognized and working (again, daisy-chained to the hard drive), upon being restart the monitor isn't recognized. If I try to open the lid of the laptop, then the MacBook Pro's own display won't even turn on, making me have to restart it.
In short, this adapter doesn't work unless you have the most basic Thunderbolt setup. Don't expect anything daisy-chained to work. Don't expect restarts to work. Don't expect waking up from sleep to have your plugged-in accessories to work the same as when you put your computer to sleep.

Written by Josh H from Washington

07-Nov-2016

430 of 495 people found this useful

Is this review useful?Problems with chained displays, waking up from sleep / restarts

5.0 out of 5 stars

Thunderbolt Display

Just brought this home to use on my new late-2016 MacBook Pro 13. This adaptor allowed me to use my Thunderbolt display. Very happy!

Is this review useful?Doesn't work with my Dell P2715Q 4k on mini-displayport

5.0 out of 5 stars

Daisy Chain Dream

I am using this adaptor with my external hard drive and external monitor. The external monitor uses a display port connection and is connected to the external h
I am using this adaptor with my external hard drive and external monitor. The external monitor uses a display port connection and is connected to the external hard drive, which is then connected to my laptop. Works perfectly! Wake functions work normally.
This is a very expensive product, but in my case it allows me to use my legacy hardware in the meantime.
Specifically the setup is as shown:
Macbook Pro 15" -> USB C to THUNDERBOLT 2 adaptor -> External Hard Drive (THUNDERBOLT) -> External Monitor (daisy chained from external hard drive)
Specficiation:
- WD My Book Velociraptor Duo Thunderbolt (2TB)
- ASUS PA238 Monitor

Written by Anthony S from Tarragindi

06-May-2018

Is this review useful?Daisy Chain Dream

4.0 out of 5 stars

Works for data connection to Promise Pegasus R4

I used this adapter to successfully connect my new 27" iMac (usb-c) to my Promise Pegasus R4 (thunderbolt 2). I upgraded the R4 with new drives, but not using t
I used this adapter to successfully connect my new 27" iMac (usb-c) to my Promise Pegasus R4 (thunderbolt 2). I upgraded the R4 with new drives, but not using them as a RAID array. On startup each of the external R4 drives shows up on Finder and works as expected. Incidentally, I also daisy-chained another G-Technology 4TB external drive into the open Pegasus Thunderbolt 2 port and it too showed up on Finder without any issues going through this adapter.
I rate this as 4 stars.. it's a little pricey for 5 stars, folks.

Written by Mark B from Carmel Valley

01-May-2018

Is this review useful?Works for data connection to Promise Pegasus R4

1.0 out of 5 stars

Only works one way :(

Older devices -> 2018 Macbook Pro = ok
Newer (usb-c) devices -> 2013 Mac Pro = nope!
Maybe this works fine connecting thunderbolt 2 devices to a new macbook
Older devices -> 2018 Macbook Pro = ok
Newer (usb-c) devices -> 2013 Mac Pro = nope!
Maybe this works fine connecting thunderbolt 2 devices to a new macbook pro. But if you were wanting to use it to connect new devices to a computer with legacy ports (re: any computer other than the newest macbook pros) than you're SOL.
$50 spent, and I still can't connect a usb-c hard drive to my Mac Pro tower.

Answer

Yes, if you mean the OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 or other Thunderbolt 3 device. There is also an
Yes, if you mean the OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 or other Thunderbolt 3 device. There is also an OWC Envoy Pro EX that uses USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) which does not require an adapter (it is much slower than Thunderbolt 3's 40 Gbps).
Apple Support document HT207266 "About the Apple Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter" has more information in the last paragraph. For some reason, Apple removed the statement that says "Support for Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter is limited to devices that require less than 10W of power".
The OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 has a captive (non-detachable) Thunderbolt 3 cable. The Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter also has a captive Thunderbolt 3 cable. Therefore, you also need another Thunderbolt 3 device that has two Thunderbolt 3 ports (such as a dock, raid, or PCIe expansion box) to connect both the adapter and the OWC Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3. The specs for the Envoy Pro EX Thunderbolt 3 doesn't state if it takes more than 10W of power, but that doesn't matter because it will be connected to a different Thunderbolt 3 device that will supply all the power.
Some older Thunderbolt 3 devices created before the first Thunderbolt 3 MacBook Pro are not compatible with macOS without a Thunderbolt enabler patch.
Thunderbolt 2 is slower than Thunderbolt 3, so the Thunderbolt 3 drive will not perform at full speed when connected to a Thunderbolt 2 Mac, but it should still be faster than 10 Gbps USB 3.1 gen 2 (which the Mac Pro doesn't have either but you can add it with a Thunderbolt 3 device or a Thunderbolt PCIe expansion chassis and USB 3.1 gen 2 PCIe card).

Answer

No (except read below). The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices.
No (except read below). The Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter is only for Thunderbolt devices.
The LG 27UK850 is not a Thunderbolt display. It has 3 inputs: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C with DisplayPort alt mode (not Thunderbolt).
The USB-C port of the LG 27UK850 cannot be used to power the MacBook Pro 2015. It can be used to power the MacBook or a MacBook Pro 2016 or later (but only provides 60W where the MacBook Pro might consume more during heavy usage).
For video output to the display, the simplest connection to your MacBook Pro 2015 to the LG 27UK850 can be done with a Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable (not included). To use the USB downstream ports of the display (for keyboard or mouse or thumb drive or whatever you like), you need to connect a USB-C to USB-A cable (not included). The downstream ports will work as USB 3.0 (5Gbps) in this configuration.
There is a way to get video over USB-C to the LG 27UK850 from the MacBook Pro 2015. Connect a Thunderbolt 3 device that has two Thunderbolt 3 ports (such as a Thunderbolt 3 dock or RAID drive) to the MacBook Pro 2015 using the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. The second Thunderbolt 3 port of the Thunderbolt 3 device can be used to connect a USB-C cable to the LG 27UK850 for video and USB data.
Note that if you're using USB-C for video, then the downstream USB ports of the LG 27UK850 can only work as USB 2.0 (480 Mbps). This is because a 4K 60Hz display requires all four super-speed lines of the USB-C cable for the DisplayPort signal.

Answer

Connect the Apollo's Thunderbolt 2 cable into the Thunderbolt port on this adapter. Then connect the
Connect the Apollo's Thunderbolt 2 cable into the Thunderbolt port on this adapter. Then connect the USB-C port of the adapter into the iMac's USB-C port. Easy Peasy.